Description
In ncurses 6.0, there is a format string vulnerability in the fmt_entry function. A crafted input will lead to a remote arbitrary code execution attack.
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | ncurses | 6.0+20170701-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | ncurses | 6.0+20170701-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | ncurses | 6.0+20170701-1 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | ncurses | 6.0+20160213-1ubuntu1+esm1 | USN-5448-1 |
| Ubuntu Pro 14.04 LTS | ncurses | 5.9+20140118-1ubuntu1+esm1 | USN-5448-1 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP3 | ncurses | 5.9-50.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:2075-1 |
| SLES 12 SP2 | ncurses | 5.9-44.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:2075-1, SUSE-SU-2017:1815-1 |
| SLES 11 SP4 | ncurses | 5.6-92.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:2076-1, SUSE-SU-2017:1790-1 |
Show 3 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 SP3 | ncurses | 5.9-50.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:2075-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP2 | ncurses | 5.9-44.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:2075-1, SUSE-SU-2017:1815-1 |
| SLES for SAP 11 SP4 | ncurses | 5.6-92.1 | SUSE-SU-2017:2076-1, SUSE-SU-2017:1790-1 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.6 | ncurses | 6.0-r8 | — |
| Alpine v3.5 | ncurses | 6.0-r8 | — |
| Alpine v3.4 | ncurses | 6.0-r8 | — |
| Alpine v3.3 | ncurses | 6.0-r7 | — |
Amazon Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Linux 2 | ncurses +7 | 6.0-8.20170212.amzn2.1.3 | ALAS2-2019-1302 |
Advisories 6
- USN-5448-1 ncurses vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 29, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:1815-1 Recommended update for ncurses SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:2075-1 Security update for ncurses SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:2076-1 Security update for ncurses SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2017:1790-1 Recommended update for ncurses SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 2, 2025
- ALAS2-2019-1302 Moderate: ncurses security update (Amazon Linux 2) Amazon Linux Security Center (ALAS) · Oct 2, 2019
References
- GLSA-201804-13 vendor-advisory
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1464692